Has a virus ever taken your computer down? If not, count yourself among the lucky few. But don’t wait until it does – it’s time to protect yourself.

But how do you decide which is the best antivirus software? The antivirus market is a crowded space, and rightfully so. There are millions of computers and other devices that get infected by viruses every year, and cleaning them up is a big business. Check out our in-depth anti-virus and cybersecurity reviews (including recommendations for best antivirus programs for specific needs like gaming and fast run speed), pros and cons comparisons and our picks for the top 3 winners for best antivirus software provider.

We also provide pros and cons so that you can dig deeper to find which cyber security package suits your needs best. In fact, we will even go beyond our picks for the best overall program to also recommend the best if you have unique needs to protect yourself while gaming, hanging out on Facebook or Pinterest or doing basic web browsing. Whether you are looking to clean up an infected computer or maintain a healthy one, we have everything you need to make an informed decision.

Antivirus solution comparison table

Since our antivirus comparison table is so large, we are placing it on a separate page so you can reference it more easily. Please visit our antivirus software comparison table to help you pick an antivirus program that meets your cyber security needs, we have compiled a comparison table that focuses on the main features of each program, pricing details, along with pros and cons. View details on antivirus programs we review in this article. We will do our best to continue to add to this table as we find more contenders, and update existing software as they add new features.

What’s the best antivirus software in 2019?

Below you’ll find our 2019 top picks for Best Antivirus services based on a variety of factors ranging from price to features, needs, reliability and customer service.

1st place winner: BitDefender

Bitdefender is our 1st place winner for the best antivirus software program in 2019 and for the past five years running. They seamlessly keep you and your computer actively safe from harm, no matter whether you are on the Internet, playing on social media or instant messenger, reading email, or using USB drives or other plugged in devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and camera cards. It is the best cyber safety service out there today. And you won’t even need to think about it while this program runs silently in the background, keeping you safe from viruses, malware and other computer security concerns. But don’t just take our word for it, Bitdefender has passed every independent lab test it has been given and exceeded expectations every year. Bitdefender offers a Mac and PC version, both starting at $39.95 for one user for one year.

Pros

Runs seamlessly in the background without compromising speed and performance.

Great phishing protection.

Virtualized Browser isolates from operating system to block threats.

Stops 100% of undiscovered attacks, AV-Test 2014.

Accurate spam filtering.

Autopilot makes optimal decisions without user input.

Protects against all known current sources of harm (Internet, email, instant messenger, social media, USB inputs, etc.).

Full range of antivirus protection tools.

Cons

Password management is limited.

Default firewall settings omit some protections.

Can be difficult to install on malware infested systems.

Increases boot and shutdown time.

In Depth Review

2nd place: Kaspersky

Kaspersky is making its way up in our ranking hitting our 2nd place spot for 2019. With amazing results from AV-Test including high scores in computer protection and performance, we are confident that you will be able to feel secure with Kaspersky Antivirus installed. Mac version costs $39.95 for one computer for one year, the same price goes for a PC.

Pros

One of the Top 50 Most Innovative Companies from Fast Company magazine.

System Watcher: Detects dangerous behavior and allow you to roll back malicious actions.

Automatic Exploit Prevention: Prevents exploitation of vulnerabilities by controlling, analyzing and restricting the actions and behavior of applications.

In Depth Review

3rd place: Panda

Panda features the award-winning Collective Intelligence technology where all Panda Security users share threat information to provide real-time protection. Panda strives on providing superior computer protection while having a minimal impact on your computer. They made a big jump in our update this year coming up from 12th place. What holds them back from moving up to 1st or 2nd is the fact that they only offer support via email and the installation process is quite lengthy. Panda’s Mac version costs $49.99 for one Mac for one year while a PC costs $39.99.

Best for cleaning a virus infected computer: Bitdefender

If you just found your computer is infected, then you want to get it cleaned quickly to avoid any further issues. Bitdefender can help! This service scores high marks from us for malware removal, blocking and rootkit tests. It is also fast to download, easy to install and will help you quickly figure out and clean up the problem. They also are known for having great customer service so if you do run into any problems with getting rid of those pesky computer viruses, a quick call will set you on the right track to a clean computer for today and to keep you protected against potential future issues.

Best for maintaining fast computer run speed (will not slow down computer): Avast

Avast is by far the lightest and most popular antivirus system when it comes to this category. Do a quick Google search and you’ll see the rants going on and on about it. Avast has impressive memory usage and during scans it flushes every 10 seconds which keeps its usage at a low-level. Avast has low system requirements and does not slow down your system. This allows your computer to continue running at full speed so that you never even notice it is quietly keeping your computer safe from any potential intrusion activities while you surf the internet, watch videos, prepare presentations, analyze vast amounts of data, read emails and more. All of these activities take up a great deal of memory on your hard drive so it is important to have a protection system that works hard without you even noticing what it takes to keep you safe.

Best customer service: Kaspersky

Kaspersky offers free support via email, chat, forum and telephone. They have an A+ rating on the BBB as well. This is exceptional because some of its competitors charge a fee for customer support or have F ratings for the BBB. Their success in this industry is due partly to their experience with customer satisfaction and being available to help when needed. You will need great customer support if you run into any questions when installing the program upfront, updating the service overtime as viruses and protection needs evolve and especially if you run into any issues that you need to repair.

Best for video gaming: BitDefender

Bitdefender, like many other antivirus providers, has a gaming mode but they specialize in this area for the serious gamer. In fact, there is no need to shut down the firewall with Bitdefender, a common practice for gamers to allow the video or computer games to run smoothly, because you just set it to gamer mode and you have full protection without impact on game play. With most other programs, you have to turn off the firewall for good game performance which leaves your computer wide open to viruses and other troublesome intrusions and harm.

We do want to point out that Kaspersky put up a great fight for this title.

Best for social network use monitoring: Norton

Norton has social network monitoring to ensure your safety on social media sites. Norton has Facebook link scanning to make Facebook as safe as possible for you. To ensure your social media interactions are secure, Norton provides protection during all your social networking interactions. Many other softwares have some type of social networking protection, but none compare to Norton.

More antivirus reviews

To jump straight to an in-depth review of the antivirus software you’re interested in, click on the link in the list below:

Avast review

Avast is one of the few providers that provides a solid free antivirus version of their software. That is called avast! Free Antivirus. When it comes to features, Avast Pro has everything you could ask for and more. And, regardless of the Windows operating system you run, Avast will run smoothly in the background without sacrificing performance. It is the most commonly chosen anti-virus software with over 200 million active users. Avast offers a free Mac version that includes file system protection, protection from email, protection against infected websites, web reputation system and drag and drop file scanning. Avast Pro starts at $34.99 for one computer for a year.

Pros

There is a FREE version that you can trial to see if you like it before upgrading to the highly esteemed Pro mode.

Free 60-day trial for avast! Pro.

Registry startup protection.

Streaming, real-time virus database updates.

AutoSandbox feature that automatically allows untrusted programs to run without fear of harm.

AVG review

AVG is an antivirus solution that has experienced high growth over the past few years. AVG prides itself on being one step ahead of the competition by employing some of the world’s leading experts in threat detection. More than 187 million people use AVG. AVG also has free Mac versions, one that keeps your computer running light and the other protects your Mac from any unwanted viruses. AVG Antivirus 2014 starts at $39.99 for one computer for a year.

Pros

Multi-layered technologies to provide users with peace of mind.

Free 24/7 Support.

100% Money Back Guarantee.

Freetrial before you have to buy.

LinkProtection – checks links before you click on them.

OnlineShield – protects you from harmful downloads.

Data Safe – encrypts and password protects private files.

Freemobileprotection for Android.

Cons

Low detection rate for the free version of their software.

Slow antivirus updates and scans.

Some users find it causes issues with their computer after they install.

Avira review

Avira has more than 306 million global installations and they offer an affordable, trustworthy antivirus alternative. Avira has an array of antivirus protection tools and has performed very well in lab tests. Avira’s free Mac version includes an award-winning malware detection that will help keep your Mac clean from viruses. Avira starts at $44.99 for one computer for one year.

CyberDefender review

eScan review

eScan is very affordable antivirus software, but it does not offer full web protection. However, if you are looking for a lightweight alternative, it really shines. eScan offers a Macversion starting at $29.95 for one computer for one year and the PC version starts at $22.45.

Pros

eScan Toolkit stands out to users with 'strong' infections.

Real time protection.

24/7 free online tech support.

Stops 100% of undiscovered attacks, AV-Test 2014.

One of the lowest memory usage antivirus programs.

Endpoint Security to block unauthorized applications.

Easy to use interface.

Above average malware detection rate.

Cons

Does not offer full web protection.

Below average malware removal and blocking scores.

Slows browser down.

Slows email download time down.

ESET review

ESET is not the most affordable antivirus protection software, but it does offer a wide array of protection tools. Eset uses ‘ThreatSense’ technology to eliminate viruses, worms, trojans, rootkits and other malware. ESET offers a Mac version and a PC version both starting at $39.99 for one computer for one year.

Pros

Light software with fast performance.

Browser exploit protection.

Cloud-Enhanced Whitelisting for faster detection.

Free 30-day trial.

Stops 100% of undiscovered attacks, AV-Test 2014.

Social media scanner.

Cons

Interface is not as user-friendly as some competitors.

False positives.

Lacks more in-depth scanning.

F-Secure review

F-Secure offers powerful anti-virus protection without slowing down your computer. F-Secure handles all threats without disturbing the user. Their anti-virus for Mac costs $39.99 for one Mac for a year. PC pricing starts at $39.99 for three computers for a year.

G DATA review

G DATA has been in the business for 20 plus years and claims to have the best virus detection rates of all anti-virus products. G DATA offers a Mac version and charges $54.95 but is on sale for $39.95 for one Mac for a year. A PC is usually priced at $39.95 but is also on sale for $29.95 for one computer for a year.

Pros

Double-Scan technology and OutbreakShield.

Fast response time.

30-day free trial.

Exploit protection.

Idle Scan protection works in the background when the system is inactive.

Bootable rescue CD.

Stops 100% of undiscovered attacks, AV-Test 2014.

14-day money back guarantee.

Cons

No automatic USB detection.

No social media integration that we can find.

Missing the key features other competitors have.

McAfee review

McAfee is an all-in-one antivirus solution that carries a big name. While some critics will point out that it can be sluggish on some machines, it also has some notable accolades. It won the Lowest False Positives Award in 2011 from AV-Comparatives. McAfee’s Mac version has a price of $79.99 for one Mac’s coverage for a year. Starting price for PC computers is $49.99 for one computer for one year but is currently on sale for $34.99.

Pros

30-Day Money Back Guarantee.

Two-way firewall.

Exclusive Anti-bot protection.

30-day free trial.

Stops 100% of undiscovered attacks, AV-Test 2014.

Free tech support.

Cons

It can be a drain on system resources.

Updates always require a system restart.

Not great at cleaning up already infected computers.

High rate of false positives.

McAfee review

Microsoft Security Essentials is a completely free service for PCs. It has a fairly simple to use interface, but doesn’t always protect you from viruses, trojans, worms, etc. Our research shows there are better free services out there that can do a better job than Microsoft Security Essentials.

Pros

Zero false detections on the AV Test.

No ads/pop ups.

Runs in the background.

Cons

Not AV Test Certified.

Not the best at malware blocking and removal.

Only available for Windows 7 and Vista.

No Mac version.

Norman review

Norman antivirus is now a part of AVG antivirus, so we’ve taken them off our list.

Norton review

Norton is one of the bigger names in antivirus software and has more than 175 million users. Their excellent customer support is a big selling point for them, which can be very valuable to many users. The Mac version costs $39.99 for one computer for a year while the PC version starts at $39.99.

Pros

Constant updates.

A well-known company name dedicated to securing and managing information.

A wide variety of antivirus services.

7 time PC Mag Editor's Choice.

Free support 24/7.

Cons

For better anti-phishing protection you have to upgrade to Norton Internet Security.

Could improve in the customer support area.

Total Defense Review

Total Defense is an all in one security suite that provides easy to use protection against viruses, malware and spyware. Total Defense stands out with its comprehensive, multi-layered, cloud-based protection. Starting price for a PC is $49.99 for 3 computers for one year but is on sale for $29.99.

Pros

Automatically scans USB.

Cloud Defense Scanner for more protection.

Download Defender – scans all downloads immediately.

Updates to the newest version automatically as long as you have a current subscription.

60-day money back guarantee.

Flags dangerous links on social networks.

Tip: If you leave the window after you've pushed the buy button a chat window will pop up offering you 25% off.

Cons

Available for Windows only (no Mac).

Not tested by AV-Test.

Not the best test scores.

Trend Micro review

Trend Micro is the recognized leader in cloud security. By focusing on the post-PC era, Trend Micro provides support across physical, virtual and cloud environments. Trend Micro offers a Mac version costing $24.95 (normally $39.95) for one Mac for one year. The PC version starts at $39.95 for one computer for one year.

Pros

High performance in independent tests against the competition.

Real-time threat intelligence.

Free 30-day trial.

Cloud based protection.

Stops 100% of undiscovered attacks, AV-Test 2014.

30-day money back guarantee.

Claims to have the best phishing detection rates.

More than 25 years of experience.

Cons

Does not provide a bootable rescue CD option.

Slow boot times in independent testing.

Difficult to install on infested computer.

Marked valid programs as malicious.

TrustPort review

TrustPort is not well-known in the antivirus market and they do not offer some of the high-end features we have come to know from other competitors. PC pricing starts at $31.95 for one computer for a year.

Pros

Application inspector is another layer of protection that runs in the background.

Good malware detection rates.

Silent mode to prevent interruptions while gaming or watching movies.

Cons

It lacks instant messaging protection.

Some users report difficultly in removing malware that has been detected.

No Mac version.

No protection rating from AV-Test.

Vipre review

VIPRE used new technologies that they custom-built to optimize PC performance. VIPRE performs very well in independent testing at detecting viruses and malware. Starting price is $39.99 for once computer for one year.

Pros

Advanced anti-rootkit technology.

Easy setup and use.

Free 30-day trial.

Social Watch – Scans Facebook pages.

100% Money Back Guarantee.

Remote device scanning.

Cons

Some users report having difficulties uninstalling.

No Mac version.

Many customers are angry about their experience with VIPRE.

Webroot review

Webroot is an antivirus software that carries numerous certifications and is one of the fastest and lightest programs on the market. Webroot has more than 30 million users. The Mac version and the PC version are the same one, which is priced at $37.49 for three computers for a year.

ZoneAlarm review

Zone Alarm is best known for its one-of-a-kind two-way firewall which provides more security than most any system on the market. This firewall is used by every Fortune 100 Company today, making it a trusted choice for computer and online safety for both business and personal use. ZoneAlarm has more than 85 million users and offers some unique features including online storage, social media monitoring, parental controls, data encryption capabilities and identity protection services all included in its computer security suite. This is in addition to the more standard Internet security protection from spam, phishing, malware and credit rating damage. Pricing for three PCs for a year is $34.95.

Pros

Download the base program for FREE to feel out the interface and decide if this program is for you.

Advanced two-way Firewall for added protection.

Free online storage.

11 time winner of PC Mag Editor's Choice

Stops 100% of undiscovered attacks, AV-Test 2014.

Real time antivirus.

Enhanced browser protection.

SocialGuard for monitoring kids activity on social networks.

30-day money back guarantee.

Cons

Large memory usage slows down computer run speed.

Some users find the interface confusing.

No Mac version.

Which antivirus Software is Right for You?

The number of different antivirus software choices on the market can be overwhelming. The first step in making this process easier is to identify the features that different software options provide and to make a list of the features that best suit your needs. For example, if you are a regular gamer, it may be important for you to find software that offers a gaming mode. So, let’s get started! Put together a list of your ‘must have’ features to narrow down your options, then find the anti-virus software that best fits your budget. And if it is important for you to have a real, live person available to answer your questions when they arise, then look to customer service reviews as well. Armed with all of this information, you are sure to make the best antivirus decision for your unique needs.

About Kimberly Alt

Kimberly has been writing for ASecureLife.com since 2013. She is passionate about home security and enjoys learning about the advances in home security and the trend of moving toward more of a do-it-yourself method. She is also an advocate for online safety and strongly believes in the power of strong passwords and identity theft protection for living a more secure life. Since purchasing her first home in 2016, Kimberly has been implementing everything she has learned through her writing at ASecureLife.com in her personal life and home.

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